Game fishing opening May 5, but panfish plentiful now

After a long winter, Delavan Lake has finally opened up. The water temperature remains very closed; it's averaging between 44 and 48 degrees. The warmest water is in the channels, where most of the active fish are. Make sure that you realize that game fish season is still closed--opening day is the first Saturday in May.

The best action for crappies has been in Viewcrest Channel. The best bait is small silver plastics fished on a small jig head. For bluegills the best location has been by Lake Lawn Resort or in the Highlands Channel. Bobbers and small ice jigs have been producing most of the action. I've been fishing no deeper than four feet of water.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at (608) 883-2050

Geneva Lake fishing report 4/19 through 4/26

Geneva Lake is ice free but very, very cold. The opening of game fish season is the first Saturday in May but the panfish bite is available now. The water temperatures are in the low 40s. For the panfish, stick to the warmest water you can find, typically shallow bays like Abbey Harbor or Trinkes.

Most of the fish that are being caught are the crappies and bluegills in Abbey harbor. Bobbers with small ice jigs and leaf worms or wax worms for the bluegills are providing most of the action. For the crappies bobbers with small fathead minnows in and around the piers are working well. Perch action can be found by Knollwood. Use slip bobbers with small fat head minnows for the best chance of success.

Lake Trout fishing remains open and a few have been caught on the main lake points. This time of year I like to use slip bobbers with minnows. I fish in 10 feet of water casting toward the point, ending up around five to six feet deep. With the cooler water, the fish will remain shallow for the next few weeks.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at (608) 883-2050

Daily Reports

4-19: Delavan Lake, sunny, SE Wind 15, 60 degrees, water temp 43-48 degrees. Fished in four feet or less all day from Lake Lawn to Highlands Channel. The only spot I caught fish was in the Highlands channel. Caught a hundred bluegills and only could keep a few fish. Used a bobber with a small ice jig. The best bait was a leaf worm or small red worm. There were no green weeds anywhere. The outlet dam was dead.

4-18: Delavan Lake, sunny, SE Wind 15, 60 degrees, water temp 46 degrees. Fished in Viewcrest channel for crappies. There were a lot around, but most were small. Best bait was a silver plastic on a pink jig head. It seems that the sunnier it is out, the better the bite.